Fluid flow meter



' Oct. 2, 1945. 5 H. A.- WILLIAMS 2,385,901

FLUID FLOW METER Filed Nov. 18, 1943 :s She'ets-Sheet 1.

INVENTOR.

- 20 -1 0 BYb'arrgA.Wi'lliamus E 5 MflM ArruR/vL-ZY Oct. 2, 1945.

H. A. WlLLiAMS 2,385,901

' FLUID mow METER f Filed Nov. 18, 1943 {Sheets-Sheet 2 E 0 2 A V/[I/W 40 1 INVIENTOR.

'4 Arm NEYV Oct. 2, 1945. H. A. WILLIAMS 2,385,901

FLUID FLOW METER I Filed Nov. 18, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

QHMMM Fig.6

49 INVENTOR.

WWLM

A TTURNE Y Patented Oct. 2, 1945 UNITED Q STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID FLOW METER Harry A. Williams, Glenside, Pa... assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Teterboro, N. 1., a corporation of Delaware I Application November 18, 1943,'Serial No. 510,815

' 3 Claims. (Cl. 73-228) flow at either low or high range rates of flow, to

thereby measure the rate through.

Another object is to provide novel means in combination, whereby a relative length of. the metering aperture is maintained substantially constant to prevent clogging, and yet varied in area in proportion to rates of fluid flow regardless of pressure in the conduit.

Another object is to provide an improved construction of novel design in vane-type flow meters or the like, combining accuracy, simplicity, economy and durability to facilitate mass production.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter'from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein three embodiments of the invention are illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views;

Figure l is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of a ilow meter of the class having a generally annular or arcuate orifice, which can readily utilize the novel construction'and arrangement of parts shown in Figures 4-6.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of a typical form of indicator adapted to take-oil rate-of flow measurements.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a detail in cross section of one means for hairspring adjustment, such as may be used with the present invention.

- I1 nearly around its face and cooperates with Fi ure 8 is an end elevation view of the device of Figure 4 partly broken away of the coil spring chamber.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of the embodiment of the present invention'shown in Figures 4-6.

Figure 81s a transverse sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figures 1-3, there is shown a casing, such as cylinder it closed at one end by wall I 2. Casing i0 is counter-bored to define a shoulder Ii, bordering an annular section i2, adjacent the end wall ii.

The casing Hi is drilled through at two axially spaced points to define inlet and outlet openings l4 and I! in annular section I2, and may be internally grooved intermediate the inlet and outlet openings to receive arcuately slotted plate it which is diagrammatically shown as cast-in.

Annular plate It contains a continuous arcuate. or generally, annular metering slot or orifice an annular plate 18 secured or seated upon shoulder I i, as by a weld 0r rivets not shown, to define a metering chamber 20 with the inlet aperture it in casing Ill.

The annular plates II and I8, and the casing end wall II are all arranged substantially parallel to each other, so as to define in addition to the measuring or inlet chamber 20, an outlet chamber 2| which communicates with outlet I 5.

Each plate "and i8 and end wall II are centrally bored to define aligned apertures to receive bearings 22, 23 and 24 adapted to Journal rotatable shaft 25, which extends longitudinally through and beyond the entire casing Hi.

The shaft 25 beyond one end of the casing III has secured thereto the inner end of a coiled hairspring 26, such as by the bushing 21 and set. screw 28. The outer end of the spring 26 is anchored to the outside of end wall It by block 29 and set screw 30. Spring 28 is so tensioned, as to develop a predetermined value of torque in yieldable opposition to any degree of torque developed by rotation of shaft 25, as hereinafter described, and is adapted to normally urge the vane 33 to a predetermined neutral position for zero indication. The shaft 25 extends through the outlet chamber 2| through and beyond inlet chamber 20 to any suitable take-oil arrangement for giving indications of fluid flow, such for example, as pointer II, which normally designates zero in the absence of fluid pressure on a cooperatively marked scale 32, shown in Figure 3. I

Suitably secured or keyed to shaft 25 is a vane 33 adapted to rotate with shaft 25 around the inlet chamber 20. The vane 33 is arranged to provide a reasonably fiuidtight fit within the annular inlet chamber 23. so as to by-pass fluid.

to be measured out of arc'uate slot I1 in plate It from the fluid impact, or presser, side only of vane 33.

To further provide for such fluidtight arrangement, the vane 33 has an enlarged central hub portion 34, which fits closely against the end of a partition 35 fixed to the inner bore of casing'lO in chamber 20. The barrier or partition 35 extends inwardly from the annular bore of casing l adjacent the high rate metering end of metering slot |1 toward the center of the inlet chamber 20. until its end fits closely against a to the force produced by the rate of fluid flow which force equals the balancing action of the torque of hairspring 26, and fluid passes out through the exposed part of arcuate slot I1 and outlet aperture l5.

The pressure exerted on the inlet side of vane 33 displaces the same in the direction of fluid flow to uncover a part of the arcuate or generally annular orifice l1. This causes shaft 25 to rotate and produce a driving torque in opposition to torque exerted by hairspring 28, until the torque transmitted by the vane 33 is balanced by the torque exerted by the hairspring 26, at which point the vane 33 has assumed its correct position to indicate the instantaneous rate of fluid flow. With eachchange of the rate of flow, the vane 33 assumes a new position, and increases or decreases the extent of exposure of annular slot l1 to measure rate changes. Obviously, as the end of shaft 25 carries the pointer 3|, indications of the true rate of fluid flow will be given on scale 32, when the hairspring torque balances the torque produced by rate of fluid flow.

Figure 4 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention, which involves constructional features for the generally annular orifice flow meters 1 of Figures 1, 2, and 7, 8. In this form, the casing I3 is cast and the outlines of metering and outlet chambers 20 and 2| are ,turned-machined therein. The end wall i3 of casing ill hasan inwardly extending boss 36 which is suitably drilled to form a receptive aperture for Journalling shaft 25 therein, over-which enga es plate I! common to both the metering chamber 20 j and outlet chamber 2|, to thereby cooperate with the upstanding annular flange 31 and provide an arcuate metering slot II. .The plate It is secured to partition 35, that is attached to plate 13 and which extends inwardly into fiuidtight connection with vane hub 34, which is keyed or otherwise secured to shaft 25, being shown as cast on, and held against longitudinal thrust by plate l6 of metering chamber 20. Partition 35 is held in place against angular movement, e. g.

Y I either by the clamping action of plate l3 or by screws (not shown) fastening plate l6 to boss 36. v v The vane 33 is shown inserted in a slot in hub 34 which is shown, above the shaft, as provided with balancing holes and counterweights for the vane. A pin stop for the vane isalso shown in Shaft 25 extends through platevlt in a suitable bushing or hearing 38, and carries thereon a magnetic clutch element, such as permanent magnet 33 adapted to drive a remote indicating system such as is shown and .described in copending application Serial No. 505,990, filed October 12, 1943, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The shaft 25 extends from beyond the other end of casing into a spring chamber 40 defined by casing end wall l3 and flanged cup 4|.

The hairspring 26 is secured at the inner end to shaft 25 by screw 40' for hub 40" and at the outer end of the coil in a block 42 by a short piece of cylindrical wire contacted by set screw 43, block 42 being riveted to a centrally apertured gear 44. Gear 44 is rotatable about an annular projection 45 from the end wall l3 of casin I6 and detachably secured thereon by suitable means, such as bolts 46 and spring plate 41.

Extending through the flanged cup 4| is a pinion shaft 48 (seeFigures 5 and 6) carryin a pinion gear 43 in-mesh with the teeth 5|! of gear 44, adapted to be rotated by a suitable tool to set the hairspring 26 to proper metering tension. Th're is a packing around shaft 48 which a removable sealing plug overlies.

In operation, this form of the invention is gen- .erally the same as that described in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3 except that the actual readings or recordings of flow rates are transmitted to a remote point through the magnetic coupling magnet as. described in the above mentioned application.

In the following description of the modification shown in Figures 4-8 of the present invention, because of itasimilar construction to the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, all like parts are given the same reference numerals and the changes only are referred to by new numerals.

- Referring in detail to Figures 7 and 8, wherein the invention is diagrammatically illustrated, provision is made for high constancy of accuracy at low flow rates.

This formkincludes a casing, such as cylinder ll, closed at oneend by wallll. Casing I3 is counter-bored to define a shoulder bordering 7 ted meteringplate l6 which is diagrammatically shown as cast-in.

The arcuate slot H in plate It differs from the rotatable shaft 25, which extends longitudinally I through and beyond the entire casing ID.

The shaft 25 beyond one end of the casing II has secured thereto the inner end of a coiled hairspring 26, such as by the bushing 21 and set screw 23. The outer "end of the spring 26 is anchored to the outside of end wall I3 by block 2.6 and set screw 30. Spring 26 is so tensioned' as to develop a predetermined value of torque in -or partition 3!,

opposition to any degree of torquedeveloped by rotation of shaft 25, as hereinafter described.

The shaft 25 extends through the outlet cham-. ber 2| through and beyond inlet chamber 20 to any suitable take-oil arrangement for giving indications of fuel flow, such for example, as pointer 3i and cooperatively marked scale 32, shown in Figure 3. Alternatively as in the form shown in Figures 4 through 6, the pointer 3| may be replaced by a telemetric transmitter means.

Suitably secured or keyed toshai't 2! is a vane 33 adapted to rotate with shaft 23 around the inlet chamber 20. The vane 33 is arranged to provide a reasonably fluid tight fit within the annular inlet chamber 20, so as to by-pass fluid to be measured out of progressively variable widths of arcuate slot II in plate l3 from the fluid impact side only of vane 33.

dicate the fluid rate of flow. With each change is arranged to maintain constantly accurate To further provide for such fluid tight arrange-' ment, and to provide a. constant length of armate slot exposure at all positions of vane 33, the vane 33 has an enlarged mutilated hub portion 34, Figure 8, which flts closely against partition 35. The barrier or partition 35 extends inwardly from the annular bore of casing Iii adjacent the high rate metering end of metering slot l1 toward the center of the inlet chamber 23, until its end flts closely against a'solid portion of the vane hub 34.

- Particular attention is directed at this point to the novel construction and arrangement. or the mutilated hub 34 with respect to the progressively widening metering slot I! in plate It. Hub 34 is mutilated toprovide a channel 53 and is made relatively larger radially than metering slot IT on either side of channel 53, so that upon rotation of the hub 34 only one length of slot may be exposed regardless of whether the flow rate is low or high. The varying rates of flow, however, are accurately measured due to the variable width of the slot l1, which as shown in Figure 8 is relatively restricted in width at the low rate metering end ll of arcuate slot H with respect to the high rate metering end 55 of the slot.

To further procure accuracy of operation,

' metering plate I. is provided with a small bleed aperture 56 near the partition 35 outside the metering slot l1 and circumference of hub 3. The aperture 33 serves to prevent any compression of fluid,'such as air back of vane 33, that would result in objectlonaily large back pressures, and which would temporarily interfere with the action of the calibrated hairspring 23.

In operation, fluid flows through inlet I4 into that portion only oi the metering chamber 30, which is bounded by plates l6 and I3, barrier vane hub and the pressure side of vane 33. As the fluid flows into the me terlng chamber, the vane 33 and.hub 34 are displaced in proportion to the force produced by the rate of fluid flow and the balancing action of the torque of hairspring 28, so that part of arcuate slot I1 is exposed by the channel. in hub 34 and thefluid passes out through aperture it.

The pressure exerted on the inlet side of vane 33 displaces the hub 34 in the direction of fluid flow to uncover the part of annular orifice II in alignment with channel 53. This accordingly, causes vane 33 to rotate and produce a driving torque to shaft 25 in opposition to torque exerted by hairspring 26, until the torque transmitted by the vane 33 is balanced by the torque of the rate of flow, the vane 33 and channel 33 in hub 3| have assumed a new position, so as to expose adifferent width of annular slot I I to measure such ratechanges. l M

f There are thus provided novel and useful improvements in flow meters of the class described. The construction of the device is simple and automatic in operation, light in construction and measurements of changing fluid flow rates in either low or high ranges.

Althoughonly two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in Figures 1 to 8,inelusive, and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto. Various changesmay be made -in the design and arrangement of the parts illustrated, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For a definition oi the invention} reference will be had primarily to the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. A fluid flow meter comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet and an arcuate slot of progressively changing width between the inlet and outlet, a vane having a mutilated hub adapted to cover all but a substantially constant length diameter than that of the arcuate o deflned by said slot, means adapted to rotatably mount said vane in said casing. and

resilient means associated with said means adapted to produce variable torque in opposition to the torque produced in the said first means in the direction of fluid flow according torates of'flow to thereby expose differentuadial widths of said annular slot according to the diflerence between said torques developed by varying rates of fluid flow. ,2. Means for determining low rates of fluid .flow comprising a metering chamber, reactive I having an inlet and an outlet a generally cylindrical portion with axially spaced with an outer so means in said chamber comprising a movable wall mounted in fluidtight relation with the sides of said metering chamber, a fluid inlet to said chamber upstream of said movable wall, means adapted to exert acounter-force in opposition to fluid pressure on the movable wall, a continuous arcuate slot of varying width in a side'of the metering chamber, and means carried by said movable wall adapted to expose portions of constant-leng'th of said 'arcuate slot on the upstream side only of said movable wall, whereby fluid is I passed through said exposed portions of said slot according to the rate of fluid flow. 3. A fluid flow meter comprising a cast block for the flow and connections respectively to the inlet and outlet, wall at one end of the block; the interior of the cylindrical portion being turnmachined to provide a central boss on the wall,

, a radially inwardly extending annular rib interexerted by the hair-spring 36, at which point the mediate said inlet and outlet connections, and an outer cylindrical portion having the outer end op n: a shaft; said boss having Journalling said shai'tcoaxially of said cylindrical portion and 01' said annular rib: an oriflce plate having a, portion coaxial of said shaft and said boss'and secured to said boss, said plate having a maximum radius less than the innerradlus of said rib to form therebetween a generally arcuate oriflce between said inlet and outlet; an end plate-attached to the block to close the end of said outer cylindrical portion and hav- I ing a concentric hole journalling said shaft; a

a drilled hole 4' memo;

metering vane member secured to the limit to l more adjacent said end plate, the inside oi said outer cylindrical portion and the orifice on the outer side of said rib and oriiice plate and havplate. cylindrical wall. rib, orifice plate and the cylindrical hub portion. and adapted to be fixed.

adjacent the stated now connection oi' the outer cylindrical portion; and a spring attached to said 6 shaft to variably oppose it's turning.

l HARRYA. WILLIAMS. 

